Patients Say Antibacterial Ingredient Making Them Sick ( Triclosan )

7NEWS ^ | February 17, 2011 | Theresa Marchetta

[george76]

FDA, EPA Studying Triclosan, A Key Ingredient Antibacterial Soaps. It is a key ingredient in many soaps, toothpastes, deodorants and other popular anti-bacterial products used by people every day. But could it be making people sick?

Triclosan is a antimicrobial or germ-killing agent first used in hospital settings as a surgical scrub. Now, triclosan is found in hundreds of products because of its ability to stop the growth of bacteria, fungi and mildew. However, triclosan was first registered by the EPA as a pesticide in 1969 and the government admits it is toxic.

Dr. Gerard Guillory... “My suspicion is that if it’s damaging the thyroid, it’s probably damaging other organs in the body,” .

Researchers at the University of California, Davis found triclosan does accumulate in the body and eventually disrupts hormone activity. The 2008 study said that could lead to obesity, infertility and cancer.

“What's considered safe 10 years ago may be considered differently today,” said University of Colorado Denver School of Pharmacy professor, Dr. Peter Rice.

This spring the FDA will release its safety review of triclosan.

In the meantime, Guillory said use regular soap and alcohol wipes if you are concerned about the risks.

[Wiser now]

And the leadup to the ban begins.

[aimhigh]

Guillory said use regular soap and alcohol wipes if you are concerned about the risks.

How about using salt or making soap with garlic?

[oyez]

My concern that putting antiseptic in everything reduces the human body's ability to defend it self against naturally occurring bacteria. Its similar to over prescribing antibiotics.

[exDemMom]

There really isn’t much of substance in that article. We get an anecdotal story about a woman who used products containing triclosan and who developed thyroid disease, as if that story proves some sort of causal relationship. The only real piece of information is that the safety of triclosan is under review. Is that really worth a story?

I just can’t stand sloppy journalism.

[Trillian]

If they use the garlic they could have some extra fun and market it to keep those annoying teen vampires away.

[RC2]

Open and read the whole article. There’s more studies at the bottom of the page. Our chemists told us a long time ago to be careful of triclosan. We have decided not to use it in our products for this reason alone.

[Califreak]

I’m allergic to it.

[exDemMom]

I did open and read the entire article. I put my assessment of it in my previous post.

Following your post, I went back and reviewed the CDC, EPA, and FDA’s statements on triclosan, and my assessment remains the same. (The other three links are not to what I would consider unbiased sources.)

Basically, it’s an article about nothing. If, because of new information or research, the agencies involved change their assessment of the safety of triclosan, THEN there may be a basis for an article. But right now, there isn’t.